By Conall Collier
Sligo Rovers will travel to tackle hosts Galway Utd in a crucial Women’s Premier Division (WPD) game on Saturday, 5pm.
The two-time Avenir Sports All-Island Cup champions will go into this game on a high following last Saturday’s impressive victory against defending WPD champions Peamount Utd where a brace of Julie Ann Russell goals and one from former Sligo Rovers striker Emma Doherty sealed the win.
“No one gave us a chance last week in the FAI Cup away to DLR Waves, but we had nothing to lose and we are certainly not a bad team. We just haven’t got results in some games where we were worth a draw or even a win,” stated Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt.
“It will be the same against Galway, no one will give us a chance and they won’t be holding anything in reserve, but I’m in a good position now with players coming back into contention for selection and we have that FAI Cup semi-final on the horizon as well.
“However, I’m not under any illusions, that’s a good Galway team and it will be vital that we produce a performance and then see where that will take us over the 90 minutes.
“I’m still suspended, I will have to watch from the stand in Galway, but the team will be well prepared, both Conor (O’Grady) and Jay (McCartney) are doing a good job and I will be on the sideline for the next home game, the following week against DLR Waves,” he added.
Galway defeated Sligo Rovers twice this season, last March, first in the Avenir Sports Cup by 2-0 and then a week later in the WPD at the Showgrounds where an 88th minute penalty gave them a hard-earned 3-2 victory.
Twice Galway were in front in that game, a 19th minute Jenna Slattrey goal was cancelled by Emma Doherty early in the second-half. Jamie Erickson restored Galway’s lead with 20 minutes remaining and Jodie Loughrey levelled in the 82nd minute.
A draw looked likely until referee Glen Geraghty pointed to the spot on the stroke of full-time and Slattery converted.
Unusually, both teams featured seven players from that encounter in last weekend’s starting line-ups and both go into Saturday’s showdown buoyed by 3-1 victories, Galway defeated Peamount at home while Sligo Rovers travelled to Dublin and negotiated DLR Waves.
The formbook suggests a home victory, but an improving Sligo Rovers side will be eager to sustain some momentum in an effort to pick up points and get off the bottom of the table with only seven games remaining.
The action will be on LOITV and kick-off is at 5pm